They remain level on points with Salford City, but improved their superior goal difference with one of their most convincing displays of the season.

Railway had not lost their last 12 matches in all competitions at home, a run that included wins over Salford, third-top Northwich and a draw with Spennymoor Town.

But Darlington overpowered them during a Valentine's Day romp, particularly during a second half in which Quakers scored four times and could have had more.

It was 1-0 at the break after a first-half which the visitors shaded, taking an increasing grip on the game despite a poor playing surface.

But manager Martin Gray had to deal with an injury problem before the match had even began, Chris Hunter declaring himself unavailable due to a ligament problem.

His place was taken by Liam Hatch, and he enjoyed a fine 90 minutes alongside Gary Brown, keeping brutish Railway forward Malachi Farquharson under control.

Early on Darlington’s Graeme Armstrong hit the base of the post with a header from the edge of the penalty area after a defender had headed away weakly, while the West Yorkshire hosts also came close when Peter Jameson had to push away Rob Youhill’s low effort from outside the penalty area.

Quakers slowly took control, however, with left-winger Nelson Mota enjoying his most productive 45 minutes in a Darlington shirt, and it was the Frenchman who gave Darlington a 34th lead.

Good work between Stephen Thompson and right-back Andrew Cartright, who enjoyed a solid debut after joining on loan from Sunderland, saw Galbraith dribble into the penalty area pull the ball back for Mota to slam home his second goal in as many games.

He also equalised in the midweek win at Padiham, giving Darlington a platform on which they built in the second half, and it was the same today.

Leading 1-0 at half-time, five minutes into the second period Galbraith had his first goal, though goalkeeper Tom Goodwin will not want to see it again.

After Armstrong's lay-off, the midfielder struck his effort powerfully into the Railway custodian’s body, but the keeper could only fumble the ball into the net to make it 2-0 and give Darlington a two-goal cushion which they never looked like relinquishing.

It was a three-goal lead when Armstrong got on the scoresheet with a terrific turn and shot from inside the penalty area after receiving a pass from Thompson, who had dribbled from hallfway.

It was a masterful finish by Armstrong, calmly slotting the ball home with his left foot when fans may have been expecting a pass to substitute David Dowson.

Dowson had replaced Nathan Cartman, the former Harrogate RA striker’s reunion with his former team-mates being cut-short before the second-half goal glut had really got underway.

Quakers played the ball around impressively, slicing through a bewildered defence, and it was 4-0 on 80 minutes, again Amrstrong holding the ball up to good effect.

He fed the back to sub Leon Scott and he played a pass through to Galbraith, who firing home across the keeper in off teh post. And the ex-Dunston UTS ace then completed his treble by sliding home at the far post after Thompson had played him in following a throw taken by Cartright.

Galbraith left the ground clutching the match ball, signed by his team-mates, having become the second Quakers player to hit a treble against Railway this season following Amar Purewal in a 7-1 win at Heritage Park.

Galbraith could have had a fourth goal having dragged a shot wide when in a good position. Another strike would’ve been timely given that the game was played the day after the 25-year anniversary of David Cork’s memorable four-goal haul against Boston United in the GM Vauxhall Conference.

Darlington won promotion at the end of the 1989-90 season, and they are on course to do it this year too, especially if they can maintain the form shown today.

However, the last word went to Harrogate RA’s Fatlum Ibrahimi, the midfielder scoring the best goal of the day by letting fly from 25 yards into the roof of the net.

The strike denied Darlington a 15th clean sheet of the campaign, though it could not take the gloss of Quakers’ biggest away win of the season.

They still have three games in hand on Salford and do not played again until next Saturday at Kendal Town, a match rearranged from New Year’s Day.

Goals: Mota (34, 0-1), Galbraith (50, 0-2), Armstrong (65, 0-3), Galbraith (80, 0-4), Galbraith (83, 0-5); Ibrahimi (90, 1-5)

Bookings: N/A

Referee: Andrew Smith

Attendance: 899

Harrogate RA (4-4-2): Goodwin; Armstrong, Heath, Morgan (Coates 70), Manning (Hunter 58); Mycoe, Ibrahimi, Thirkwell, Youhill; Farquharson, Yates. Subs (not used): Kidd, Hickey, Ashforth

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; Cartright, Brown, Hatch, Watson; Mota (Scott 69), Portas (Cocks 81), Galbraith, Thompson; Armstrong, Cartman (Dowson 63). Sub (not used): Bell (gk)